ALBUM REVIEW: Tropics - Parodia Flare
Based purely on the name, I presumptuously went in to this album expecting some sort of sunny, exotic, chilling by the pool type scenario. Perhaps I can be forgiven for that, Tropics – Parodia Flare is quite a leading title after all. Anyway, I was half right. Tropics is actually just one man, Chris Ward, who recorded the whole album in a walk-in wardrobe. That accounts for the other half. The album is as lush as it is claustrophobic, a thick, humid swell of synth and vintage instrumentation being languidly led through an analogue jungle by Chris’ earnest voice. The album certainly starts off on the sunny side, with the intro swirling in on an ocean wave of reverb; it almost feels like the start of an Ibiza trance anthem by Chicane. Then the recent single ‘Mouves’ kicks-in, setting the tone for the album with the Hawaiian shirt grooves of Friendly Fires combining with the unsettled, shuffling chord-work of ‘In Rainbows’ Radiohead to create a balmy but fidgety feeling (like being all covered in sand and sun cream on the beach). The title track ‘Parodia Flare’ is a majestic, shimmering haze in the mould of Blue States while ‘Figures’ places Chris’ whispered confessions over icy glitches and echoing chants. Final track ‘On The Move’ closes proceedings with a lazy jazz keyboard and ambling drums. Chilled, yet challenging.
Label: Planet Mu
Genre: Electronica
Release Date: 19th September
Download: ’Mouves’, ‘Figures’, ‘On The Move’
Further Listening: Blue States ‘Nothing Changes Under the Sun’
Rating: 7.5/10
Words: Matt Wright
Little Dragon - A New (Tropics Remix)
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